Dutch fresh produce group The Greenery is preparing to make a further round of redundancies this year as it continues to streamline its operations in the wake of a drastic decline in profitability.

In a statement, the company confirmed it had decided to cut its workforce again in order to bring operating costs down further, resulting in the projected loss of around 60-65 jobs at its head office during 2015.

“Half of this reduction will be achieved through the termination of temporary employment contracts,” the statement said. “This means that no more than approximately 30 permanent contracts will have to be terminated.”

Following various changes to the company’s employment structure as part of the so-called Phoenix recovery plan set out by former interim chief executive Okke Koo, The Greenery has done away with the previous practice of hiring agency staff in favour of a new system of flexible employment contracts.

The new, slimmed-down organisational structure is due to be implemented fully in the first quarter of this year.

“The streamlining process has already started, and the employees have been informed about the changes to the organisation.”

Meanwhile, The Greenery said it had recorded a “significant improvement” in operating profit thanks to the recent reorganisation and what it described as the implementation of a “stringent chain costs reduction programme”.

Despite difficult trading conditions and lower prices in the international fresh produce market, the company revealed it was expecting to close the 2014 financial year with a significantly improved net result.

Detailed results will be published in the group’s annual report, due out in April.

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